Delray voters to consider charter changes

City launches education campaign on city charter changes that will appear on the March 12 ballot

March 8, 2013|By Maria Herrera, Sun Sentinel

Voters in Delray Beach will have several challenges in addition to picking a new mayor and commissioner for Seat 1 during the March 12 election.

Several changes to the city's charter as well as some economic development initiatives will appear on the ballot.

The changes were proposed by a Charter Review Committee in September, a group made up mostly of former city commissioners and former mayors.

The committee's recommendations include reducing the number of votes required to remove the city manager, changing the length of terms, extending term limits for the position of mayor and increasing the compensation city commissioners receive — but only the following were approved by the commission to appear on the ballot:

•Changes to the length of terms. The change would make the mayor or commissioners able to serve two three-year terms instead of the three two-year terms they currently serve.

•Allow a commissioner who gets elected as mayor to serve another six years. Currently, any city commissioner who assumes the role of mayor cannot serve beyond the three two-year term limit.

•Removing language that prohibits a reduction in the city manager's salary. If approved, the commission would be able to reduce the manager's salary for a myriad of reasons — from budgetary constraints to poor performance.

•Changes that allow the City Commission to adopt different voting procedures at City Commission meetings. The proposed amendment would remove the current requirement that all commission votes must be made in the affirmative. The commission would maintain the need to obtain three concurring votes on any action for an item to be approved or denied. Currently, the city clerks calls the roll and commissioners vote one by one until the item is decided. The change will allow them to all vote simultaneously.

•A change that cleans up language and makes the charter more reader-friendly.

And last, voters will also have to give their blessing so the commission can offer tax breaks to businesses that are relocating to the city or expanding and creating new, full-time jobs in Delray.

To educate voters on the changes, the city is launching a $10,000 campaign. The commission selected Connection Strategies, a consulting firm owned by former State Rep. Mary Brandenburg, to help get the word out.

"We want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to vote and be educated about the issues," said Richard Reade, the city's public information officer.

Reade said the programs are not geared to advocate for or against an issue, but to inform voters of what they are.

However, Vince Dole, president of the civic group Friends of Delray, said the expense is unnecessary, given the city's ability to use its website and social media to inform residents.

"If they have to spend $10,000 of taxpayer money to promote these items," Dole said. "I am inclined to look at them with some skepticism."

Dole said his group will be analyzing each item and issuing a special edition of the group's newsletter, The Intelligence Report, to inform residents.

For more information on charter changes visit http://www.mydelraybeach.com. For the Friends of Delray's Intelligence report, visit Meherrera@tribune.com">http://www.friendsofdelray.com